Lifeline for elderly after lunch club defies cuts to remain open

Enterprising bosses of a much-loved lunch club for the elderly have defied council cuts and announced: "We're staying open."

The club, run by Age Concern, had been due to fold at the end of last month after it was forced to leave its Farm Lane, Fulham site when Hammersmith and Fulham Council demanded an annual £10,000 service charge, as well as cutting funding which would have allowed the club to continue at the charity's other site in Greyhound Road, Hammersmith.

The news devastated its elderly patrons, but after launching an appeal for funds and donations, the charity has left members 'ecstatic' after announcing the club isn't shutting after all.

Bosses held raffles and a harvest festival to get the ball rolling and when it received a cash donation of £500 from a member of the public it was able to reveal the good news.

The money will be used to retain the bus service needed to collect pensioners from their homes.

Bernice Semple, Age Concern's operations manager, is delighted with outcome, saying: "We weren't just going to roll over and die because we know how important this is for these old people.

"When we told them the news they were ecstatic because for many it is their only chance to interact with anyone.

"They were so upset when they heard the club was going fold so to be able to continue is great. Luckily we are starting again right away and that's important because if the gap had been too long it could have been difficult to get people out again."

Although the club has been saved, times are still tough after its council finding was cut to £170,000 and it is warning more donations will be needed for the lunches to continue.

Ms Semple said: "We will need it to remain popular because, although we have the donations from the harvest festival and cash from the raffle, we'll need to cover our costs.

"We won't be able to offer what we did before in terms of the menu but if people continue to support us we hope we will be open for a long time."

The council says it is 'thrilled' at the news. Councillor Joe Carlebach, cabinet member for community care, said: "The council has never asked Age Concern to leave Farm Lane and the organisation continues to use our building at Greyhound Road.

"We are working closely with Age Concern to keep providing as many services as possible, including offering support to keep the luncheon club open, and are thrilled the group is looking at inventive ways of raising money."